Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Nintendo DS Gets a Fashion-Forward New Color Scheme: Cobalt/Black
The best-selling video game system in the world is adding a cool new color scheme to its wardrobe on Feb. 10. Like a black T-shirt with a splash of color, the new Cobalt/Black version of the portable Nintendo DS™ grabs your attention. It looks good whether it’s toted in your school backpack, pulled from your purse or riding with you on a family trip.Cobalt/Black marks the seventh color in the Nintendo DS Lite palette. It joins Polar White, Coral Pink, Onyx, Crimson/Black and the limited-edition Gold and Metallic Rose. Now there’s a Nintendo DS color to complement any outfit.Nintendo DS just finished 2007 as the best-selling video game system in the United States, with more than 8.5 million sold last year alone. Since it launched in November 2004, Nintendo DS has sold more than 17.6 million in the United States. Its smart looks, innovative touch screen and voice recognition features, and remarkable software have reinvented the way people think about video games while attracting girls, women, baby boomers and seniors to the world of video games in record numbers.The new Cobalt/Black version will be available starting Feb. 10 wherever video game systems are sold. For more information about Nintendo DS, please visit www.Nintendo.com/DS
FDA Recalls Fentanyl Painkiller Patches
Patches sold in the United States under the brand name Duragesic which contain the painkiller fentanyl were recalled on Tuesday.The recall includes all 25-microgram-per-hour patches that have expiration dates on or before December 2009.The cause of the recall is a possible cut in the lining of the reservoir where the drug is stored in gel form. A gel leak into the drug's packaging could result in difficulty breathing and a potentially fatal overdose.The cut in the patch can be seen when the foil pouch container is opened
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. Any damaged patch should be flushed down the toilet, and the handler of the drug should be immediately rinsed with water, but not washed with soap.The powerful drug is used with patients such as cancer patients, who are experiencing chronic pain and are used to narcotics. Therefore, it can cause trouble breathing in people not used to this class of painkillers. In December, the FDA put out its second warning in two years about the dangers of misusing the powerful drug.PriCara estimates that two patches out of every million included in the recall have the defect that causes the leak, according to Associated Press.For details on Duragesic patches sold by PriCara, call 800-547-6446. For details on generic fentanyl patches sold by Sandoz, call 800-901-7236.The recalled patches were also sold in Canada under the Duragesic brand by Janssen-Ortho Inc. and generically by Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.All of the patches were manufactured by PriCara affiliate ALZA Corp. PriCara is a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.---On the Net:Duragesic patchesPriCara
Source: redOrbit Staff and Wire Reports
GA_googleFillSlotWithSize("ca-pub-5440138744487553", "News_Main_300x250", 300, 250);
. Any damaged patch should be flushed down the toilet, and the handler of the drug should be immediately rinsed with water, but not washed with soap.The powerful drug is used with patients such as cancer patients, who are experiencing chronic pain and are used to narcotics. Therefore, it can cause trouble breathing in people not used to this class of painkillers. In December, the FDA put out its second warning in two years about the dangers of misusing the powerful drug.PriCara estimates that two patches out of every million included in the recall have the defect that causes the leak, according to Associated Press.For details on Duragesic patches sold by PriCara, call 800-547-6446. For details on generic fentanyl patches sold by Sandoz, call 800-901-7236.The recalled patches were also sold in Canada under the Duragesic brand by Janssen-Ortho Inc. and generically by Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.All of the patches were manufactured by PriCara affiliate ALZA Corp. PriCara is a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.---On the Net:Duragesic patchesPriCara
Source: redOrbit Staff and Wire Reports
Doctors Discredit Lipitor's Link to Memory Loss
By LAUREN CAHOONABC News Medical UnitFeb. 13, 2008
Doctors have largely discredited an anecdotal link between the popular cholesterol drug Lipitor and memory loss.
The possibility of such a link involving the widely used statin drug surfaced Tuesday in an article published in The Wall Street Journal.
Full Coverage
Heart Smart: Expert Tips on Heart Disease
Perhaps the most controversial statement was attributed to Dr. Orli Etingin, vice chairman of medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital, who noted, "This drug makes women stupid."
Dr. Antonio Gotto, dean of the Weill-Cornell Medical School in New York, noted that the quote was likely taken out of context when Etingin spoke at a recent luncheon on women and the brain.
But Etingin also mentioned that two dozen of his patients who take Lipitor have reported fuzzy thinking and memory loss.
Despite these reports, ABC News medical editor Dr. Timothy Johnson said he believes a rational response is due.
"You can never make policy based on one case, and when you look at the overall evidence, it does not appear that problems with cognition are a common or serious side effect," Johnson said.
"In general people should not worry, but if they're having a problem, they should talk to their doctors about switching the drug they are on."
Benefits Likely Outweigh Risk, Doctors Say
Currently, about 18 million people take Lipitor, which is made by Pfizer. Memory loss is not listed as a side effect on the drug's patient information sheet.
When asked about the possibility of memory loss, Pfizer responded with a statement that claimed less than 2 percent of Lipitor users — which would account for about 360,000 people — reported such a side effect. The company noted that its research has shown no cause-and-effect link between the statin drug and memory problems.
Many doctors agree that there is little cause for alarm.
"[Etingin's statements] are unnecessarily inflammatory," said Dr. James Stein, of the division of cardiovascular medicine at University of Wisconsin in Madison. Stein says the reports could be the result of a "nocebo" effect, where the patient attributes unrelated health problems to a drug-not-producing side effect — in many ways the opposite of a placebo effect, in which patients attribute improved health to a sugar pill or other sham treatment.
"It is a natural response to the appearance of new symptoms or heightened concern over old symptoms after starting a medication," said Stein.
Other doctors noted that not taking the drug could be riskier than the side effects.
"Which is preferable — to have some trouble with finding words, or having another heart attack or stroke and possibly dying?" said Dr. Scott Grundy, director for the center of human nutrition at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "The benefit must be weighed against the side effects."
The Wall Street Journal also quoted Gotto as saying, "The benefits far outweigh the risks. I would hate to see people frightened off taking statins because they think it's going to cause memory loss."
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Still, the article noted that Dr. Gayatri Devi, an associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, had seen at least six patients who have had memory loss associated to statins.
"The changes started to occur within six weeks of starting the statin, and the cognitive abilities returned very quickly when they went off," Devi told the Wall Street Journal. "It's just a handful of patients, but for them, it made a huge difference."
Research Needed to Confirm Side Effect
Even if the side effect is real, many doctors stress that the connection should be proven by careful scientific research, not by anecdote.
"The main problem with anecdotal reports is that people can be unduly influenced by these stories," said Dr. Wendy Wright, assistant professor of neurosurgery at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. "It is usually more rational, though, to look at data from thousands of patients and apply it to one patient's situation than to look at one patient's situation and apply it to thousands of cases."
In fact, a recent scientific study, published in the January issue of the journal Neurology, looked at 929 elderly women and found that statins were not tied to mental confusion or Alzheimer's disease.
In an even larger study, carried out by Pfizer in August 2006 on nearly 5,000 stroke patients, the company showed that patients taking Lipitor did not report memory loss as a significant problem.
"I have seen about every complaint imaginable with these medications, but I have no recollection of anyone having memory loss," said Dr. Neil Brooks, a family practitioner in Vernon, Conn.
"Of course, it is possible that since I take Lipitor, I do not remember them for that reason," he quipped.
Lauren Cox and Radha Chitale contributed to this report.
Doctors have largely discredited an anecdotal link between the popular cholesterol drug Lipitor and memory loss.
The possibility of such a link involving the widely used statin drug surfaced Tuesday in an article published in The Wall Street Journal.
Full Coverage
Heart Smart: Expert Tips on Heart Disease
Perhaps the most controversial statement was attributed to Dr. Orli Etingin, vice chairman of medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital, who noted, "This drug makes women stupid."
Dr. Antonio Gotto, dean of the Weill-Cornell Medical School in New York, noted that the quote was likely taken out of context when Etingin spoke at a recent luncheon on women and the brain.
But Etingin also mentioned that two dozen of his patients who take Lipitor have reported fuzzy thinking and memory loss.
Despite these reports, ABC News medical editor Dr. Timothy Johnson said he believes a rational response is due.
"You can never make policy based on one case, and when you look at the overall evidence, it does not appear that problems with cognition are a common or serious side effect," Johnson said.
"In general people should not worry, but if they're having a problem, they should talk to their doctors about switching the drug they are on."
Benefits Likely Outweigh Risk, Doctors Say
Currently, about 18 million people take Lipitor, which is made by Pfizer. Memory loss is not listed as a side effect on the drug's patient information sheet.
When asked about the possibility of memory loss, Pfizer responded with a statement that claimed less than 2 percent of Lipitor users — which would account for about 360,000 people — reported such a side effect. The company noted that its research has shown no cause-and-effect link between the statin drug and memory problems.
Many doctors agree that there is little cause for alarm.
"[Etingin's statements] are unnecessarily inflammatory," said Dr. James Stein, of the division of cardiovascular medicine at University of Wisconsin in Madison. Stein says the reports could be the result of a "nocebo" effect, where the patient attributes unrelated health problems to a drug-not-producing side effect — in many ways the opposite of a placebo effect, in which patients attribute improved health to a sugar pill or other sham treatment.
"It is a natural response to the appearance of new symptoms or heightened concern over old symptoms after starting a medication," said Stein.
Other doctors noted that not taking the drug could be riskier than the side effects.
"Which is preferable — to have some trouble with finding words, or having another heart attack or stroke and possibly dying?" said Dr. Scott Grundy, director for the center of human nutrition at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "The benefit must be weighed against the side effects."
The Wall Street Journal also quoted Gotto as saying, "The benefits far outweigh the risks. I would hate to see people frightened off taking statins because they think it's going to cause memory loss."
adsonar_placementId=1280601;adsonar_pid=42750;adsonar_ps=-1;adsonar_zw=165;adsonar_zh=220;adsonar_jv='ads.adsonar.com';
Still, the article noted that Dr. Gayatri Devi, an associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, had seen at least six patients who have had memory loss associated to statins.
"The changes started to occur within six weeks of starting the statin, and the cognitive abilities returned very quickly when they went off," Devi told the Wall Street Journal. "It's just a handful of patients, but for them, it made a huge difference."
Research Needed to Confirm Side Effect
Even if the side effect is real, many doctors stress that the connection should be proven by careful scientific research, not by anecdote.
"The main problem with anecdotal reports is that people can be unduly influenced by these stories," said Dr. Wendy Wright, assistant professor of neurosurgery at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. "It is usually more rational, though, to look at data from thousands of patients and apply it to one patient's situation than to look at one patient's situation and apply it to thousands of cases."
In fact, a recent scientific study, published in the January issue of the journal Neurology, looked at 929 elderly women and found that statins were not tied to mental confusion or Alzheimer's disease.
In an even larger study, carried out by Pfizer in August 2006 on nearly 5,000 stroke patients, the company showed that patients taking Lipitor did not report memory loss as a significant problem.
"I have seen about every complaint imaginable with these medications, but I have no recollection of anyone having memory loss," said Dr. Neil Brooks, a family practitioner in Vernon, Conn.
"Of course, it is possible that since I take Lipitor, I do not remember them for that reason," he quipped.
Lauren Cox and Radha Chitale contributed to this report.
American Idol Top 24 Revealed
Who will make the top 24 on American Idol 7? While the official announcement doesn’t come until the Wednesday, February 13 episode of American Idol 7, the top 24 semifinalists just might be the worst kept secret in reality TV history.
For several weeks, a spoiler list of the American Idol 7 top 24 has been published all over the Internet. Now, even FOX has gotten into the act of spoiling the top 24 semifinalists. A recent photo released of the top 24 hiding behind Simon Cowell face masks seems to support the authenticity of the spoiler list that has been circulating. While the faces of the contestants are concealed, there is enough hair, tattoos, and body parts showing that several of the contestants can be identified.
The most obvious contestant that can be identified from the picture is Carly Smithson from the San Diego auditions. Her tattoos are a dead giveaway. Also, the hair of Robbie Carrico from the Miami Auditions and the hair of Kristy Lee Cook from the Philadelphia auditions appears to be visible from behind two of the Simon Cowell masks. Who else can you identify from the official FOX top 24 sneak peak photo?
Reality TV Magazine is your source for American Idol news. For other great American Idol news, please feel free to check out SirLinksALot: American Idol.
For several weeks, a spoiler list of the American Idol 7 top 24 has been published all over the Internet. Now, even FOX has gotten into the act of spoiling the top 24 semifinalists. A recent photo released of the top 24 hiding behind Simon Cowell face masks seems to support the authenticity of the spoiler list that has been circulating. While the faces of the contestants are concealed, there is enough hair, tattoos, and body parts showing that several of the contestants can be identified.
The most obvious contestant that can be identified from the picture is Carly Smithson from the San Diego auditions. Her tattoos are a dead giveaway. Also, the hair of Robbie Carrico from the Miami Auditions and the hair of Kristy Lee Cook from the Philadelphia auditions appears to be visible from behind two of the Simon Cowell masks. Who else can you identify from the official FOX top 24 sneak peak photo?
Reality TV Magazine is your source for American Idol news. For other great American Idol news, please feel free to check out SirLinksALot: American Idol.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Guitar Rising better than Guitar Hero!
Have you ever played a guitar game and wondered if you could do the real thing? Are you a Guitar Hero rockstar and want to take it to the next level? If you want to learn how to play the guitar, but don’t have the time or patience, then Guitar Rising by GameTank just might be for you!
If the developers are to be believed, then this is more than just a game: it’s a learning tool. Guitar Rising allows you to plug in any guitar and learn, practice, or rack up your score. It features a Guitar Hero-style accuracy mode (although not nearly as flashy, probably due to patents). Additionally, you can adjust the difficulty, tempo, and even the processing/effects to boost your entertainment (or education). Finally, the whole package comes stock with 30 songs, and they’re currently negotiating deals to get your favorite rock ballads onto the platform.
The developer, GameTank, is an independent game studio based in San Francisco. On their website, they state that “GameTank was founded to develop games that enable players to acquire real-world skills while being thoroughly entertained.” Will Guitar Rising live up to the hype? They’ve already won the Developer’s Choice Award for this game at the 2007 Independent Game Conference. Only time will tell, however, as the final product is slated to ship later this year (2008). Would you be interested in Guitar Rising?
*Note: Finder’s credit goes to Gizmodo, who provided the original coverage. To see a video of Guitar Rising in action, visit their posting or the official Guitar Rising website.
-->
If the developers are to be believed, then this is more than just a game: it’s a learning tool. Guitar Rising allows you to plug in any guitar and learn, practice, or rack up your score. It features a Guitar Hero-style accuracy mode (although not nearly as flashy, probably due to patents). Additionally, you can adjust the difficulty, tempo, and even the processing/effects to boost your entertainment (or education). Finally, the whole package comes stock with 30 songs, and they’re currently negotiating deals to get your favorite rock ballads onto the platform.
The developer, GameTank, is an independent game studio based in San Francisco. On their website, they state that “GameTank was founded to develop games that enable players to acquire real-world skills while being thoroughly entertained.” Will Guitar Rising live up to the hype? They’ve already won the Developer’s Choice Award for this game at the 2007 Independent Game Conference. Only time will tell, however, as the final product is slated to ship later this year (2008). Would you be interested in Guitar Rising?
*Note: Finder’s credit goes to Gizmodo, who provided the original coverage. To see a video of Guitar Rising in action, visit their posting or the official Guitar Rising website.
-->
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Breakthrough 'Acai Berry Anti-Aging Facial' Applies Benefits of Nature's Super-Food to the Skin
LAKE FOREST, Calif., Feb 04, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Renowned esthetician, Karen Dunlap, has developed an advanced anti-aging procedure that utilizes a super- food recognized as the number-one most nutritious and powerful food in the world -- the acai berry. Connecting the dots between science and nature, Dunlap discovered that topical application of the berry -- compared with ingestion -- magnifies its benefits. Her new signature facial, the Acai Berry Anti-Aging Facial, combats premature aging, naturally nourishing the skin and improving tone. Why the Acai Berry?
-- Antioxidants Combat the Signs of Aging, Sun Damage and Acne. As one of
the highest antioxidant-content fruits in the world, the acai berry
fights off cellular mutation, reducing free radicals' abilities to
cause wrinkles and more. Complex antioxidants called anthyocyanins
prevent oxidants from harming connective tissues while repairing
damaged proteins.
-- Phytonutrients, Vitamins and Minerals Promote Overall Cell Health. Acai
berries contain potassium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, protein, and
vitamins B1, B2, B3, C and E.
-- Flavanoids Fight Inflammation. Known for their anti-inflammatory
properties, flavanoids act as astringents, contracting and tightening
tissues, and combating wrinkles and acne.
-- Essential Amino and Fatty Acids Heal and Sustain. Omega-6 and Omega-9
fatty acids, vital to proper cell contraction and regeneration, enable
skin cell systems to combat the signs of aging. Monounsaturated oleic
acid helps the body effectively absorb Omega-3 oil through the cell
membrane.
-- Phytosterols Preserve Collagen. Phytosterols protect skin's collagen,
improving tone and texture.
"With the proper nutrients, the body has the ability to heal itself," explains Dunlap. "I developed the Acai Berry Anti-Aging Facial to nourish the skin with everything it needs to fight aging, acne, and other skin ailments, renewing and revitalizing itself the way nature intended."
Karen's Specialty Skin Care:
Karen's Specialty Skincare is owned and operated by Karen Dunlap, an esthetician with more than 10 years of experience as an expert in the industry, providing training in medical offices and spas, and personally attending to the skincare needs of Miss USA(R: 56.92, -0.10, -0.17%) contestants, as well as numerous models, actors, actresses and musical performers. Known for a clinical, results-oriented approach to skincare, Dunlap customizes each treatment to the specific needs of the client. Karen's Specialty Skincare is located at 22600 Lambert Street, Building B, Suite 804 in Lake Forest, Calif. For more information, visit www.KarenSSC.com, or call 949-859-5030.
SOURCE Karen's Specialty Skin Care
-- Antioxidants Combat the Signs of Aging, Sun Damage and Acne. As one of
the highest antioxidant-content fruits in the world, the acai berry
fights off cellular mutation, reducing free radicals' abilities to
cause wrinkles and more. Complex antioxidants called anthyocyanins
prevent oxidants from harming connective tissues while repairing
damaged proteins.
-- Phytonutrients, Vitamins and Minerals Promote Overall Cell Health. Acai
berries contain potassium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, protein, and
vitamins B1, B2, B3, C and E.
-- Flavanoids Fight Inflammation. Known for their anti-inflammatory
properties, flavanoids act as astringents, contracting and tightening
tissues, and combating wrinkles and acne.
-- Essential Amino and Fatty Acids Heal and Sustain. Omega-6 and Omega-9
fatty acids, vital to proper cell contraction and regeneration, enable
skin cell systems to combat the signs of aging. Monounsaturated oleic
acid helps the body effectively absorb Omega-3 oil through the cell
membrane.
-- Phytosterols Preserve Collagen. Phytosterols protect skin's collagen,
improving tone and texture.
"With the proper nutrients, the body has the ability to heal itself," explains Dunlap. "I developed the Acai Berry Anti-Aging Facial to nourish the skin with everything it needs to fight aging, acne, and other skin ailments, renewing and revitalizing itself the way nature intended."
Karen's Specialty Skin Care:
Karen's Specialty Skincare is owned and operated by Karen Dunlap, an esthetician with more than 10 years of experience as an expert in the industry, providing training in medical offices and spas, and personally attending to the skincare needs of Miss USA(R: 56.92, -0.10, -0.17%) contestants, as well as numerous models, actors, actresses and musical performers. Known for a clinical, results-oriented approach to skincare, Dunlap customizes each treatment to the specific needs of the client. Karen's Specialty Skincare is located at 22600 Lambert Street, Building B, Suite 804 in Lake Forest, Calif. For more information, visit www.KarenSSC.com, or call 949-859-5030.
SOURCE Karen's Specialty Skin Care
Monday, February 4, 2008
Cracking Down on Organic Food Fraud
With organic foods raking in $16 billion and more annually, some are concerned that Department of Agriculture standards and independent third-party verification may be insufficient to prevent fraud.
Science to the rescue.
In a recent study published in Journal of Environmental Quality, Spanish scientists describe how they use "nitrogen isotopic discrimination" to determine if non-organic, synthetic fertilizers were used on sweet pepper plants. Because organic fertilizers derived from manure have compositions of nitrogen isotopes that differ from synthetic fertilizers, produce grown with different methods can be distinguished.
Organic foods are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, which are often derived from natural gas and/or phosphates minded from the Earth; without the use of chemical pesticides designed to kill weeds, insects or diseases, and without the use of genetically engineered seeds.
The technique developed by Francisco del Amor would only work to identify fraud in the use of fertilizers, and if the cost of testing is comparable to the cost of testing for pesticide residue, it is unlikely to be instituted on a large scale anytime soon; still, it could be used to test for fraud when it is suspected for other reasons.
In the meantime, the USDA organic standards are widely considered to be trustworthy, given that independent third-party assessors check on farm practices, and the USDA has also recently cracked down on at least one large dairy that had received organic certification for its milk before its standards lapsed.
Science to the rescue.
In a recent study published in Journal of Environmental Quality, Spanish scientists describe how they use "nitrogen isotopic discrimination" to determine if non-organic, synthetic fertilizers were used on sweet pepper plants. Because organic fertilizers derived from manure have compositions of nitrogen isotopes that differ from synthetic fertilizers, produce grown with different methods can be distinguished.
Organic foods are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, which are often derived from natural gas and/or phosphates minded from the Earth; without the use of chemical pesticides designed to kill weeds, insects or diseases, and without the use of genetically engineered seeds.
The technique developed by Francisco del Amor would only work to identify fraud in the use of fertilizers, and if the cost of testing is comparable to the cost of testing for pesticide residue, it is unlikely to be instituted on a large scale anytime soon; still, it could be used to test for fraud when it is suspected for other reasons.
In the meantime, the USDA organic standards are widely considered to be trustworthy, given that independent third-party assessors check on farm practices, and the USDA has also recently cracked down on at least one large dairy that had received organic certification for its milk before its standards lapsed.
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